Originally Posted by supernaturalThe leash was too long for Ocasio imo. Putting in KB for the start of the 2nd inning would have been my play - if not then then after Wodach was walked - if you can't pump strikes as a control pitcher to a player hitting .159 with no power then you really shouldn't be out there.

Not if the GD strike zone is a postage stamp. Parker had to put it over the plate too, lets not forget she had to get replaced too.

Just saw Florida's post-game presser. Total class all the way. What OU accomplished is an even bigger deal when you fully appreciate the quality of the opponent. Florida was No. 1 all season for a reason. Coach Walton is as good as they come, and his athletes are well prepared and worthy. Again, this adds to the depth of Oklahoma's satisfaction, that the Sooners bested a program like Florida's. Good off-season Gators! Hope it won't be too long before our next meeting.

I didn't go back and look at the replay, but I am pretty sure there were a couple of pitches right down the middle while Ocasio was still in that looked like strikes. I mean they were right down the middle and I remember thinking what does the umpire want.

Fair enough (and @ eyenoall), I rewatched the Wodach AB and Ocasio did get squeezed pretty hard, can't blame her for that AB.

I've been watching the World Cup of Softball. I gotta say I was impressed by Kelsey Stewart.

Now let me say she was a great player for UF, but her senior season was a letdown (at least for me). Her move to SS was under-whelming. Defensively, I thought she was OK at 2B in her first three years (nothing special). Of course she made a name for herself offensively (batting & running) those years. But in her senior year, her offense was lacking and her defense was particularly disappointing. It was sad to see her leave UF on that note.

The USWNT has her playing OF & 3B. I was extremely gratified to see her 3B play was so sharp. She made many excellent defensive plays in the series. She didn't look like the same Kelsey. Even her offense was rather good. Granted, many of the US player had good offensive play. But if was good to see her get back on track!

How do you feel about Florida next year?
I followed them in the wcws but really didn't all through out the year. Do they have another pitcher coming in?
Any hitters that can back up the top 4 hitters?
Edit i did see Hannah Adams on the juniors team so I know she'll be joining Uf next season

Well, pitching-wise we've got a freshman coming in named Natalie Lugo. She was rated the #22 player by FloSoftball, and was selected for the Junior USNT. I'm not sure how many pitchers were rated above her. I've seen her pitch in the World Cup of Softball and she seems promising.

Based on what I've seen, I think she will be better than Chronister (who was our #4 this past season). We'll see what Rocha can do with these two. I even wonder how much Ocasio will pitch. It will probably depend on how they develop. I'll wager we will see a lot of Chronister and Lugo pre-conference. Walton likes to use freshmen in the West Coast Tournaments early.

Hitting-wise Hannah Adams is the surest bet of the bunch to go every day. She was rated the #13 player by FloSoftball. She too was selected for the Junior USNT, and played a lot. She was one of the better hitters, although I did not see any extra-base hits. She will probably be a good candidate for lead-off next year IMHO. She played OF in the WCoS, but she was listed by UF as a shortstop. I don't know if she can displace Reynoso (especially after her performance in the WCWS championship games). It would be nice to have a SS that can field AND hit. Also we have Jordan Matthews, another SS, coming in rated #64. Haven't seen her play, but she may have something to say at SS.

I have a good feeling about Danielle Romanello (1B/C), who was rated the #10 player by FloSoftball. I haven't seen her play, but I think she is in the Kali Kvistad mold. I'm thinking she's got power.

I did she Hannah Adams during the juniors World Cup and she did a good job in my option getting on and leading off. I don't think I saw Natalie Lugo pitch. but seeing how Florida's assistant coach develops Florida's pitchers i think she'll fit in Florida's rotation somehow.

Hannah is as good a SS as I have ever coached. She has range, a great glove and has game smarts. I fully expect her to be the starting ss at Fla early in her career.__________________

John O. Brennan Retweeted donald j. trump(denny)

When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history. You may scapegoat Andy McCabe, but you will not destroy America...America will triumph over you.

It is kind of weird that Kelsey Stewart had a down senior year after training with Team USA all summer and then Kasey Cooper did the same thing at Auburn this past year. I wonder if Erickson tries to change their swings over the summer.

Originally Posted by Softballjunkie223I did she Hannah Adams during the juniors World Cup and she did a good job in my option getting on and leading off. I don't think I saw Natalie Lugo pitch. but seeing how Florida's assistant coach develops Florida's pitchers i think she'll fit in Florida's rotation somehow.

I am also curious about Lugo. She will most likely be the #3 behind Ocasio. Chronister only went 19 innings all year with 2.21ERA. Not stellar but the 5ER she gave up against Bethune-Cookman should raise some eyebrows. Still they have to bring Lugo along slowly. She's far from ready to throw any meaningful innings against decent competition in college. I do agree the staff will prepare her.

In 2016 KB pitched about 45% of the innings, DG pitched about 35%, AO about 15%, and KC about 5%.

This coming year I predict that in non-conferencegames KB pitches 35% of innings, AO pitches 30%, NL pitches 20% (if she pans out as expected), and KC 15%. I'm sure the coaches are expecting one of KC and NL to blossom and become a solid #3.

I am also curious about Lugo. She will most likely be the #3 behind Ocasio. Chronister only went 19 innings all year with 2.21ERA. Not stellar but the 5ER she gave up against Bethune-Cookman should raise some eyebrows. Still they have to bring Lugo along slowly. She's far from ready to throw any meaningful innings against decent competition in college. I do agree the staff will prepare her.

I agree. I like what I saw from Lugo, although she doesn't have the hype coming in like Barnhill - but who does? I am optimistic with her potential.

I was not impressed with Chronister in any of her appearances last year. Her ERA would have been far worse had she not had KB, DG & AO as a reliever. But then I could have said the same thing about KB in 2016.

Also, Ocasio is an interesting case. Could be a solid No. 2, for sure, but UF loses a lot defensively with her not in the field

Yes, you are correct, sir! I was thinking last season was 2016. Oops.

Unless Chronister or Lugo comes on strong (I'm hoping Lugo), Walton will need to pitch Ocasio for the second game in the SEC series. Having Ocasio on defense for the first & third games will have to do. UF has historically been a solid defensive team.

I think Ocasio gets back to 2016 form (Top 3 NPOY candidate) because my gut tells me she will be pitching a lot more than most people seem to think. When she pitches, we can obviously be more flexible with the lineup if needed. But for this reason, I don't see her playing the infield much at all.

If Adams is such a great SS, there's a good chance we can convert her to 3B. Adams likely gets the leadoff or #9 spot nod.

Chronister is going to likely be developed into a serviceable relief arm because Florida doesn't want to lose that lefty relief look they've become accustomed to (and has won them national titles).

Voss is seemingly the best CF we have, unless Adams can play there and take her spot. That would leave 3B to someone like Hoover or Matthews.

And Romanello will be hitting, always (too many holes in that lineup otherwise)

It's essentially the same lineup as last year, not that it was the best, but they weren't pushovers.

It's going to be Roberts or Romanello for DP because they are both back up catchers to Wheaton, whose defensive skills and clutch hitting keep her in the lineup. Romanello is also ANOTHER lefty sooo we'll see. Would be great to fit her in, I agree.

Maybe this new hitting coach from Tennessee baseball gets Hoover back on track and 3B is solved.

All I know for sure is Ocasio is extremely competitive and has played with 2 NPOYs in her career. She has all the tools to be a strong candidate for that award this year if she's pitching like she did in 2016 (with similar # of innings) and as valuable a part of the offense as she was in 2017.

Insert Photos

Web address (URL)

Image URL

If your URL is correct, you'll see an image preview here. Large images may take a few minutes to appear.
Remember: Using others' images on the web without their permission may be bad manners, or worse, copyright infringement.